Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: The exploration of substances that stimulate collagen synthesis and retard the aging process of the skin is an active field of current research. The natural environment and plants used in traditional medicine have been a source of such substances. The aim of this study was to compare the stimulatory effect of betulin (BE), betulinic acid (BA) and the new derivative - betulin ester with diaminobutyl acid (BE-Dab-NH(2)) on collagen synthesis in human normal fibroblasts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primary fibroblast cultures were obtained from the gums of a healthy patient. The effect of the above-mentioned compounds was assessed by Sircol collagen assay, immunocytochemistry, and proliferation test. RESULTS: Fibroblasts cultured in the presence of BE-Dab-NH(2) produced 6.85 times more collagen than control cells, 7.85 times more than those cultured in the presence of BA and 6.31 times more than those cultured in the presence of BE. An intense immunocytochemical reaction for collagen type I and III was found in fibroblasts cultured in the presence of BE-Dab-NH(2) Conclusion: BE-Dab-NH(2) stimulates significantly more collagen synthesis in normal human fibroblasts than its precursor.